ISO or VIDEO_TS?

[watchintv]

I have ripped a few DVDs to my hard drive, but wasn't sure what I should burn them as, an ISO file or just the VIDEO_TS folder. Right now, I just exported them out of DVD Shrink as an ISO because it seemed to be the most popular choice around some of the forums I have been at. Are there any advantages of each one?

Thanks

[r0lZ]

Welcome to the forum, watchintv!

You can burn the ISO of a single layer DVD directly with many burning programs (but I recommend ImgBurn.) Do NOT use Shrink to produce a double layer ISO, as it will be very difficult (or even impossible) to burn. To burn an ISO of a DL DVD, you have to produce the ISO with DVD Decrypter directly, but of course, you cannot modify it before burning it.

You can also burn the VIDEO_TS folder directly with ImgBurn v2, even on a double layer DVD (and it's currently probably the only program able to do that correctly.)

The main advantage of producing the DVD-Video files is that they can be modified with some programs (like PgcEdit), for example to remove the FBI warnings or modify the navigation to jump directly to the main movie. You cannot edit an ISO.

[prOnorama]

I think an advantage of a VIDEO_TS folder is there will be no problems with the 4 Gb filesize limit on FAT partitions, which an ISO >4 Gb will give.

[r0lZ]

Right, I forgot that. But who use still FAT32 partitions?

[watchintv]

Hey, thanks for the reply, and greeting.

Another question, though, should I be worried about compatibility with stand-alone players if I do end up burning the ISO file, or would I be safer just burning the VIDEO_TS folder. You see, since I already have removed everything I don't want (like FBI warnings, etc...) in DVD Shrink and exported it as an ISO, do you think I need to go about extracting the VIDEO_TS folder or is it something I shouldn't really be worried about.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Whether you burn from an .ISO or a "VIDEO_TS" folder (Properly, in "DVD-Video" format) has no bearing on the playability of the burned DVD on standalone, or any other, players...

[r0lZ]

Right, setarip_old, but the burning program must do a good job (especially with the VTS sector pointers and the 32K gaps) when burning a folder. It's exactly the weakness of Nero, and of most cheap programs. It's why I recommend ImgBurn (or PgcEdit! ;))

It is easier to burn an ISO, and most burning programs will burn it correctly, as nothing needs to be analysed and/or patched in the IFOs. It's the responsibility of the program which did the IFO. The burning program doesn't even have to know that it's a DVD-Video.

[watchintv]

Thanks r0lZ and everyone else for replying. Ya, I was planning on using ImgBurn, anyway. I love doom9...